David Quinn (columnist)

David Quinn
Nationality Irish
Alma mater Dublin City University
Occupation Journalist
Organization Iona Institute
Known for

David Quinn is an Irish social and religious commentator who freelances and contributes weekly columns to The Irish Catholic and Irish Independent. He often appears on Irish current affairs broadcasts. Known for supporting anti-abortion, anti-euthanasia, and anti-homosexual views in his writings and media contributions.

Quinn is a director of the Dublin chapter of Legatus, which promotes Roman Catholicism in corporate business,[1] for those who meet stringent qualification criteria.[2]

Educated at St. Paul's College, Raheny, Quinn studied at Dublin City University (then NIHE Dublin) graduating with a degree in Business Studies.

Iona Institute

In January 2007, Quinn founded the self-styled Iona Institute, a Roman Catholic pressure group promoting families based on heterosexual marriage and the practice of religion.[3] He is the current director of the Iona Institute.[4]

Anti-Abortion campaigning

David Quinn supports Ireland's previous near total ban on abortion, and has appeared many times in popular debates on the topic of abortion in Ireland, to defend the Eighth Amendment.

Euthanasia

David Quinn campaigns against the legalisation of euthanasia.[5]

Anti-LGBT rights Campaigning

He is in favour of Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, which allows religious schools to discriminate, and fire, employees who don't match their ethos, which can be used to fire gay teachers in Catholic schools,[6][7] with the Iona Institute recommending that it be kept.[8]

He is opposed to Ireland's Gender Recognition Act for transgender people.[9]

In 2010, he was opposed to legal recognition of same-sex in the form of Civil Partnerships.[10][11]

He campaigned for a No vote in the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum[12]

In the course of the referendum campaign, Professor John A Murphy, a noted Irish historian, wrote to the Irish Times. In his letter, he described the constitutional amendment, which permitted same sex marriage and extended constitutional protection to families based on such marriages, as "grotesque nonsense.".[13] Following this, Mr Quinn tweeted[14] "Proposed change to marriage 'grotesque nonsense' Mr Quinn was criticised for this tweet by LGBT rights activist Panti, who wrote: "I can think of lots of things that are grotesque. Extending constitutional protection to all families is not one of them... I would call it 'fair', 'reasonable', 'compassionate', 'considerate', 'respectful', or even 'the very least we can do'. But not 'grotesque'." [15][16]

See also

References

  1. "To study, live, and spread the Catholic Faith in our business, professional, and personal lives". Legatus of Dublin.
  2. "Qualifications". Legatus.
  3. Tighe, Mark (25 October 2009). "Gay activists attack bill optout plan". The Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  4. "Personnel and Patrons". Iona Institute.
  5. Quinn, David (10 June 2016). "Live and Let Die we are condoning suicide if we permit assisted suicide". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  6. Kearns, David (26 January 2016). "Bill to prevent sacking of gay teachers". Irish Independent. Stripping religious-run schools and hospitals of the ability to sack staff for being gay, divorced, or unmarried is the "best we can do without starting over", Equality Minister Aodhan O Riordain says.
  7. Quinn, David (22 April 2014). "The de facto sacking of Brendan Eich and Section 37". Iona Institute. it was pointed out to me on social media that my stance seemed in direct contradiction of my support of Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act which allows religious organisations not to employ anyone who would undermine their ethos.
  8. "Submission to the Equality Authority on Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts" (PDF). Iona Institute. November 2013. We recommend that Section 37 be retained.
  9. Quinn, David (11 May 2017). "The Government has ordained; the sex you are is totally unrelated to your body". It is hard to overestimate how radical this move is. ... Think Caitlyn Jenner. S/he would insist that s/he has always been a woman and has no choice but to be a woman.
  10. Quinn, David (12 March 2010). "We'll pay a heavy price for allowing same-sex unions". Irish Independent.
  11. Minihan, Mary (4 December 2009). "Mixed reaction to Civil Partnership Bill". The Irish Times.
  12. "In Early Vote Count, Ireland Appears Headed Toward Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage". The New York Times. 23 May 2015.
  13. "Marriage referendum".
  14. David Quinn [@DavQuinn] (13 May 2015). "Proposed change to marriage 'grotesque nonsense' www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/marriage-referendum-1.2209712#.VVMaC-tReX0.twitter … Great letter by Prof John A Murphy in @IrishTimes today #MarRef" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016 via Twitter.
  15. "Grotesqueries". Broadsheet. 13 May 2015.
  16. "Panti Bliss / Pantibar". 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016. I think it's very revealing that David Quinn is prepared to endorse the use of the word "grotesque" about gay relationships and families. I can think of lots of things that are grotesque. Extending constitutional protection to all families is not one of them.
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